After a long-awaited return that lasted over three years, HBO's True Detective is back with its fourth season, titled True Detective: Night Country. This instalment promises a fresh take on the acclaimed franchise, featuring two formidable female leads, Jodie Foster and Kali Reis. The six-episode season is set to air weekly, with the first episode already available on HBO GO.
Under the guidance of showrunner, writer and director Issa López, Night Country unfolds in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, and follows the mysterious disappearance of eight men from the Tsalal Arctic Research Station during an unforgiving winter night.
For the first time in the series, the spotlight is on two women leading the charge. Jodie Foster steps into the role of Detective Liz Danvers, and her co-star Kali Reis plays Trooper Evangeline Navarro. The decision to cast two female leads adds a compelling layer to the narrative, and the filming, despite the Alaskan setting, takes place in Iceland, making it one of the most extensive projects ever undertaken in the country.
In a recent Zoom interview, Foster, a veteran actress known for her iconic roles, shared her thoughts on returning to television after a significant hiatus.
"Well, I actually realised I haven't done television as an actor since like 1975. And honestly, first of all, we look at it as a big long movie. So for us, it's just a six-hour movie, and I feel like this show in particular is so cinematic that it's easy to see it that way," she said.
"I love True Detective. I was a huge fan. Actually, I think I've seen the whole series like three times. So I was just incredibly flattered and felt totally blessed to be a part of the show."
Reflecting on her character, Liz Danvers, Foster acknowledged a departure from her previous roles, particularly her iconic portrayal of FBI Agent Clarice Starling in the cult crime classic The Silence Of The Lambs.
"It is the second cop character I have ever played since Clarice Starling. I don't know why I stayed away from these kinds of roles. I think I do like to mix it up. So I like to do and play different things. I've really been enjoying more than ever, acting in my 60s. The 60s are magical," she said. "However, I think my character in True Detective is very different from Clarice," she explained, highlighting the contrasts in composure, normativity and demeanour between the two characters.
Kali Reis and Foster in True Detective.
The conversation then delved into the evolution of the detective genre and the depiction of violence against women, and how the way we depict violence in the detective genre has changed.
"Well, I think The Silence Of The Lambs in a way is sort of the godfather, or the great, great grandfather of this show. Our director Issa López would say that The Silence Of The Lambs bred Se7en. Se7en bred True Detective. Then True Detective Season 1 bred Season 4. I feel like there's a real conduit from one to the other," she pointed out.
Foster also drew connections between The Silence Of The Lambs and True Detective, emphasising the series' intention to address difficult topics. "But in terms of violence against women, I don't think that's as much a theme in those shows as it is in the world. You know, if you really look at the statistics it has been a reality to our lives since the beginning of time," she said.
"And especially violence against native people, native women, and murdered indigenous women. That's a real problem, a real thing that existed, and it's not only happened in Alaska. We really wanted to talk about and address it."
The central theme of grief and loss in Night Country prompted a discussion on how Foster taps into dark places as an actor. Embracing the series' dark undertones, she expressed her love for delving into profound and significant themes.
"There's nothing that makes me happier than to delve into things that feel profound, feel significant in your life," she remarked. Foster also emphasised how, as one ages, the complexity of grief and its connection to the human experience becomes more apparent.
Discussing her character, Foster revealed the evolution of the role. Originally written as a vulnerable character who had just lost her child, the character underwent changes as Foster and the creative team infused their own perspectives.
"She's someone who had this instinctual spiritual side but was very busy pushing it down and didn't want to be a part of it. She was just a lot of fun to come up with," Foster shared. The collaborative effort between Foster and Issa López, both women over 40, allowed them to delve into their own personalities to bring the character to life.
The interview then shifted to the unique filming experience in Iceland. Foster expressed her love for the country, praising its infrastructure for shooting and the magical landscapes covered in snow.
"It turns out Reykjavik is just an amazing town. You know, great live bands, good music scene, terrific food, all that stuff that you love. We had a great time," she exclaimed. Despite facing challenges like subzero temperatures, the cast and crew formed a strong bond, akin to a "Peace Corps-like adventure".
Foster also touched on the desire to film in Alaska but explained the impracticality due to logistical challenges.
"Alaska is an amazing place. I wish we could have filmed there, but it's impossible to film there because where we needed to be, it doesn't really have a lot of roads. Everything would have had to have been brought in by helicopter and plane, and it just didn't make sense."
As True Detective: Night Country unfolds against the icy backdrop of the Alaskan winter, Foster and Kali Reis lead audiences on a captivating journey into the depths of darkness, confronting the ghosts that linger beneath the frozen surface. True Detective Season 4 promises to be a cinematic masterpiece, weaving together themes of mystery, grief and the intricate tapestry of the human experience.
